Wrapping machine



Nov.- 20', 1923. 5

E. 'c. TAYLOR WRAPPING MACHINE Filed July 14 1919 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1- x Q R INVENTOR.

Nov. 20', 1923. 1,474,651 4 E. c. TAYLOR WRAPPING MACHINE Filed July 14 r1919 2 sheets-sheet 2 M INVENTOR- Patented Nov. 20, 1923.

WRAPPING MACHINE.

' Application filed July 14,1919. Serial No. 310,827.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be itlmown that I, Eownno C. TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Longmea dow, in the county of Hampden and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have. invented certain new and useful Improvements in a \Vrapping Machine, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines; and in particular to machines for enclosing substantially rectangular articles in a wrapper of paper or other similar material and sealing the same in place.

It has for its object the provision of a machine of the above type having a small number of moving parts.

It also has for its object the provision of a machine of the above type. 'in which reciprocating or intermittent movements are eliminated, thus greatly simplifying the driving elements of the mechanism.

It also has for its objectthe provision of a machine that is simpler in construction than existing machines, and which can therefore be sold for a lower price, thus increasing the field. in which wrapping machines may be substituted for manual wrapping.

It also has other and further objects which will appear from the description of the machine and the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, in. which like reference characters denote the same element'throughout the several views,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention, partly in section, taken substantially on the line 11 of Fig. 3

I the first conveyor;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine, partly in section, taken on the line 22' of Fig. 1;

"Fig. 3-. is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail of the cam track for operating the pushers of the first conveyor, showing diagrammatically the path of one of the pusher heads;

Fig. 5 is a detail of one of the pushers of Fig. 6 is a section through the first conveyor, showing one of the pushers, the cam track for operating it, and the intermediate support for the chain;

wrapping Fig. 7 is a detail of one of the pushers of the second conveyor;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the entrance to the second. folding chute, showing also the lower end of one of the pushersof the second conveyor; and

Figs. 9, 10, and 11 are details showing steps in the wrapping of the article.

The wrapping nrechanism is mounted on a frame 10 of any suitable type, surmounted i by a table 11. The articles a. are placed manually, or by any suitable feeding mechanism, in a. hopper-12, to the bottom of which they are fed by gravity. The bottom of the hopper is cut away at one sideto furnish a passage for the articles into a horizontal chute or channel 13, and at the other side has an aperture 14 through whichpassa series of pushers 15, mounted as will be described below. Chute 13 is interrupted by a paper guide 16, of sufficient width to accommodate a sheet of paper enough wider than the article to be wrapped so that it can be folded down on the sides thereof. The bottom of this guide is preferably integral with the walls, as this is the cheaper construction, but it will be understood that it may be made adjustable if desired, as is well understood in the art. Paper is manually fed into this guide in advance of the articlealthough any suitable automatic paper feed may be provided if the speed at whichv the machine is to be operated is sufficiently great to warrant it.

The folding chute itself is'constructed in general in a. well known manner. Its bottom is formed by the tabletop or by suitable guides attached thereto, and its topby a plate 17. As the-article a is pushed through the wrapperw the latter is folded onto the top and'bottom of the article as shown at and 0, leaving trailing portions behind the article. which later serve to cover its rear side. -l3eyond the paper guide are tuckers 18, with their ends nearest the approaching article flared in the usual so as to make the end tucks d on either side of the article. These end tuckers may be supported from the table top by brackets 19. Beyond the end tuckers are plow' folders 20 and 21, the first named being spaced from the top of the chute to allow of the passage of the top flat e'of the wrapper, and having an inclined portion which serves to fold the lower flap 7 against the end of the article; and the second named having an inclined portion serving to fold the upper flap 6 down against the end of the article and over flap f. Folders may be supported from the table top by brackets 22.

The vpresent'machine has been illustrated as provided with electrical heat sealing attachments, for melting paraffin or other ad hesive contained in the wrappers; but it will be understood that any of the usual types of adhesive sealing devices, such as' glue rolls, could be used if that type of seal were desired. A pair of heat sealers has been illustrated' at 23, wires 24 leading from the resistance elements thereof serving for connectlon to a source of electric current. The

'heat sealers melt the paraffin carried by the wrappers and effectually-seal the folds of the wrappers together, forming an air tight package, as is well understood in the art.

The package at this point is in the condi tion illustrated in Fig. 9, and is carried by will be fully described later, and the packages are carried to one side (to the right in Fig. 2) by a second series of pushers 26 mounted on an endless chain." Before de scribing. the action of these pushers and the construction of the second folding chutethe mounting and operation of the first series of pushers will be described.

Over s rockets 30 and 31, located at opposite en s of the machine, passes a chain 32. As shown this chain is of the block type, having at intervals extended pivots 33. On each of these pivots is mounted a bell crank 34, carrying as one arm the pusher 15 and as the other, slightlyoffset from the 'plane of the pusher, a roller 35. This roller travels in a cam track 36 mounted in any convenient manner on the frame of the machine. Preferably, and as shown, the track 36 is adjustably mounted so that the articles to be wrapped may be brought into accurate alignment with the second folding chute. This is done by forming the track out of channelshaped metal, and securing it, by screws 37, to brackets 38 on the frame of the machine; slots 39, through which the screws pass, en-

abling the track to be bodily adjusted'in a direction parallel to the length of the first folding chute. In order to support the pushers firmly throughout their travel, inter mediate guide members 40, formed as a deep channel, are secured to brackets 41 on the frame and support the chain 32 during its travel between the sprockets 30 and 31.

The shape of the cam track 36 deserves especial attention. As will be observed from Fig. 4, in which the dotted line car rying arrow heads denotes the path of travel of the heads of the pushers 15, these pushers travel in a straight line until they reach the position in which the single pusher shown move backwardly and slightly downwardly, and then move abruptly downwardly until 'tliepusher head is below the level of the table, when they are carried around sprocket 30. In order to permitof this motion, the slot 42 in the table in which the pusher arms travel is widened out as at 43 at its ends'to permit of the heads of the pushers passing through. The pushers are preferably returned by the cam track to their original position normal to the chain as they pass around the sprocket 30 so that they are in their normal position when the chain starts on its lower straight line movement. This is of advantage in that the cam track at the other sprocket (that at the right in Fig. 1) is simplified into an arc of a. circle, but if desired for purposes of space orother reasons the pushers may travel along the lower path of the chain in their retracted position, illustrated by thepusher shown in Fig. 1 passing around the left hand sprocket. In the latter event, the cam track adjacent the right hand sprocket must be so shaped thatit will return the pushers to their, normal position as they reach the upper path of the chain. An enlargement 44 of slot 42 is provided to permit the pushers passing through the table into position to remove an article from the hopper 12.

The construction and operation of the second series of pushers and the second folding chute will now be described. Pushers 26 are carried on a chain 50 passing over sprocket-s 51 and 52. The formerof these is fixed upon a shaft 53, having thereon a 59 and 60.- Shaft 58 may be driven from any suitable source of power, as by tight and loose pulleys 61, and carries the sprocket 30 onwhich the chain for the first series of pushers is carried.

Thepushers 26 are preferably Supported 1.: from the chain 50 by constructing them enlarged links 62 thereof, and have head portions 63 provided with a thin tucker 64 at one side. As the pusher comes in contact with the article, which is located against plate 25 and from the rearwardly extending folds of which a pusher 15 is just withdrawing, tucker 64 folds .down the flap 9, as shown in Fig. 10, and the head 63 pushes the article into the second folding chute. This chute is composed of table'll, which serves as the base thereof; an angle iron 65, which serves as one side and part of the top; a

70 in Fig. 4 is illustrated. At this point they top piece 66, spaced slightly from the angle iron to leave a space 67 for the passage ofthe pushers 26; and various other members forming the fourth side of the chute and presses the tucker pivotally and yieldably against the article. Spaced slightly beyond the tucker and depending downwardly from manner.

the top plate 66 is a folder 74, which has a urved edge of the usual type for turning down the top end flap z'. This folder may be attached yieldably to a bracket secured to the table, and may serve as a partial support for the top plate 6d The final fold j is made by a plow folder 76 forming part of a side wall of the folding chute which also may conveniently be made integral with the' top plate. This folder may be yieldably attached to a bracket 77 in any suitable Beyond the folder 76' is a heat sealer 7 8, provided with lead wires 79. As stated with regard to the first folding chute, any desired sealing device may be substituted for the heat sealer in case it is not desirable to operate with waxed paper, but the construction shown is preferable from the standpoint of simplicity. The final portion of the side wall of the chiite may be provided with a plurality of fins or flanges 80 which serve to cool the side wall and hasten the setting of the wax,

The top plate 66, together with the folding elements attached thereto, are preferably yieldably mounted in any knownmanner which forms no part of my invention, so as to avoid interference with the folder 64, although, due to the thinness of this folder, this precaution is .not absolutely necessary.

The articles may be discharged from the machine in any suitable way, as by dropping them into areceptacle, or by delivering them from pushers 26 onto a conveyor 81, which may be driven from any suitable source of power which it is not necessary to show or des ribe. The article so delivered is completely wrapped and sealedin an air tight package.

If an airtight package is not required the heat sealers 23 may be dispensed with entirely, as it will-be found that flaps i and y by their engagen'ient with tucksy and 72-, will hold the side flaps e and f sufliciently tightly for most practical purposes.

It will be observed that the construction described above does away with the necessity for reciprocating parts and movable cams, and that the machineiis greatly simplified in comparison with machines of the usual types. All the parts are either stationary or continuously movable, and the shocks and jars. witlaconsequent deterioration of the machinery, that are incident to the intermittent action of the usual machine elements, are entirely obviated. One of the conveyors is driven from the drive shaft directly, and the other receives motion therefrom by a simple connection; these two elements forming the only moving parts in the machine.

It will readily be recognized that the specificmechanical details do not form an essential part of my invention, and I 'do not'wish to be limited by such details excopt in so far as they are incorporated into the appended claims.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I claim:

1. In a wrapping machine, a folding chute. continuously operating means to carry the article and wrapper through the chute, a second folding chute extending transversely of the first-named chute, continuously operating means to receive the partially wrapped article from the first-named chute and to carry it through the second-named chute, and means carried by the secondnamed carrying means to make a fold in the wrapper.

2. In a wrapping machine, a folding chute, a plurality of continuously operating pushers constructed and'arranged tocarry a series of articles and Wrappers through said chute, a second folding chute extending transversely of the first-named chute, a conveyor having its two courses in a plane at right angles to the first chute, and'a plurality of continuously operating pushers mounted on said conveyor and constructed and arranged to carry the partially wrapped article through the second-named chute, each of the last-named pushers carrying a folding member. 4

3. In a wrapping machine, a chute coinprising a series of stationary folding members constructed and arranged to folda' wrapper about the front, top, bottom, and sides of an article as the article and wrapper are carried therethrough, continuously operating means to carry an article and wrapper through said chute, a second chute extending transversely of the first-nained chute, continuously operating means to carry the partially wrappedarticle through the second-named chute and to fold downthe rear extension of the wrapper at one side of the article, said second-named chute comprising.

prising a series of station 5 folding men hers constructed and arranged to fold a wrapper about the front, top, bottom, and sides of an article as the article and wrap- I per are fed therethrough, whereby a tubular rear extension of the wrapper is left pronamed pushers carrying a folding member for making a fold of the said tubular rear extension, and means for controlling the firstnamed pushers so that they position thepartially wrapped article for the action of t he second-named series of pushers, and withdraw from the tubular extension of the wrapper in time to avoid interference with said second-named pushers.-

comprising afolding member bodlly yield- 5. In a wrapping machine, a folding chute.

able away from the side of the chute and yieldably rotatable about an axis outside of the chute. V

6. In a wrapping machine, a folding chute, and a pusher adapted to feed an article and wrapper through the chute and having a side extension adapted to fold down a portion of the wrapper, said chute comprising a folding member adapted to fold down a portion of the Wrapper opposite that portion folded by the pusher, said member being rotatable about an axis and bodily yieldable away from the chute so that the passage of the side extension is not interfered with but the foldin member remains in contact with the secon drained folded portion of the wrapper.

7. In a'wrapping machine, a folding chute comprising stationaryfolding members, a series of pushers constructed and arranged to carry an article and wrapper through said chute, a second folding chute extending transversely of the first-named chute and having a series of folding devices spaced along it to operate on articles passing therethrough, and a second series of pushers constructed and arranged to receive the partially wrapped article from the first-named.- chute and carry it through the second-named chute.

' 8. In a wrapping machine, a folding chute containing stationary folding members, a continuouslyoperating series of pushers constructed and arranged 'to carry an articleand wrapper through said chute, a second folding chute extending transversely'of the first-named chute and having a series of folding devicesspaced along it to operate on articles passing therethrough, and a second continuously operating series of pushers constructed and arranged to receive the partially wrapped article from the first-named chute and carry it through the second-named chute.

'9. In a wrapping machine, a folding chute, continuously operating .means to carry the article and wrapper through the chute, a second folding chute extending transversely of the first-named chute, con- ,tinuously operating means to receive the partially wrapped article from the firstnamedchute, means carried by the secondnamed carrying means to make a fold in the wrapper, and stationary folding means located in the two chutes and adapted to make the remaining folds in the wrapper. 10. A conveyor adapted for use in wrapping machines having projecting pusher eleintents, and plates attached to each pusher element and extending forwardly at one side thereof so as to turn down a fold of the wrapper at one side of the article as the pusher comes into contact therewith.

, 411. In a wrapping m'achine,a folding chute containing stationary folding members, an endless chain carrying a series of pushers constructed and arranged to carry an article and wrapper through the chute, and forwardly-projecting folding plates on a side of each. of said pushers.

12. In a wrapping machine, a folding chute having folding adapted to folda Wrapper about'five sides of an article, leaving a tubular extensionv of the wrapper about the sixth side, a series 1 of pushers constructed and arranged to carry an article and wrapper through said chute, a second folding chute extending transversely ofthe first chute and containing foldingmembers adapted to fold down one side and the top and bottom of the tubular extension, and a series of pushers constructed and arranged to carryv the par tially wrapped article from the first chute to the folding members in the second chute. 7

-13. In a wrapping machine, a folding chute, a series of pushers mounted on a carrier and constructed and arranged tocarry an article and awvrapper through the chute,

and a cam track located adjacent the carrier members therein 1 and constructed and arranged'to coact with..-

the pushers to cause them successively to locate an article in position for further operations and to then withdraw from contact with said article, said cam track being constructed of a continuous channel section having substantially straight top and bottom sections, a semicircular section, and a section shaped to cause the pushers to withdraw from contact with the articles, pass thereunder, and resume their normal posi-.

tion. I v A. In a wrappingmachine, a. folding articles and wrappers through said chute, a second folding chute extending transversely I of the first-named chute, means to fold one side tuck of the said tubular extension, folders located along the second folding chute for folding the opposing side tuck and the top and bottom of the tubular extension, and a continuously operating series of pushers constructed and arranged to carry the partially wrapped article from the first chute into the second chute and into 'posi tion for being operated upon by the folders located therein.

15. In 'a wrapping machine, a folding chute comprising a plurality of stationary folding members constructed and-arranged to fold a wrapper about the front, top, botand wrapper are fed therethrough,

a vtubular rear extension of the wrapper is Luck of the said tubular extension and sides of an article as the article whereby tom,

left projecting behind the article, a continuously operating series of pushers constructed and-arranged to carry tlie'f'articl'es and wrappers through sai'd-'ehute,a second folding chute extending-transversely of the first-named chute, means tofold one side folders located along the second foldingwlitite for i folding the opposing side tuck and the top and bottom of the tubular extension, means for controlling the first-named pushers so that they position the partially wrapped articles for the action of the second-named pushers, and withdraw from the tubular extension of the wrapper in time to avoid interference with the transverse motion of the article, and a continuously operating series of pushers constructed and arranged to carry the partially wrapped article from the first chute into the second chute and inposition for being operated upon by the folders located therein.

- EDWARD C. TAYLOR. 

